THE ALMONTY ONE: According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Zoilo Almonte became the second Major Leaguer in the past five seasons to collected at least three hits and a home run in his first start in the big leagues (also Toronto’s J.P. Arencibia, who had four hits and two homers in 2010. Almonte became the first Yankee to collect at least three hits, including a home run, in his first Major League start since Oscar Azocar in 1990.

HOME COOKING: With last night’s win, the Yankees snapped their season-high-tying two-game home losing streak. They are one of only two AL teams (also Detroit) yet to drop more than two in a row at home. The Yankees haven’t lost three straight at Yankee Stadium since four in-a-row from July 28-31, 2012.

FRESH FACE: This is the second major league start for Alex Colome. He had a 3.07 ERA with Triple-A Durham.

UPDATE, 1:26 p.m.: Two on with one out, Hafner goes down looking and Overbay flies to left. We officially have our first missed opportunity of the game.

UPDATE, 1:29 p.m.: Longoria’s 17th homer of the year has the rays in front, 1-0 in the second.

UPDATE, 1:42 p.m.: Well, Adams just worked a walk, but Stewart followed with a double play and that’s the end of the second inning. Yankees have had two on in each of the first two innings, but they’ve had nothing to show for it.

UPDATE, 1:58 p.m.: Travis Hafner just reached on an infield single. I’m sure this is somehow related to the awesome power of Zoilo.

UPDATE, 2:05 p.m.: Two-out, two-run single by Almonte. For two days, anyway, this kid has been tremendous. He has the Yankees in front, 2-1.

UPDATE, 2:38 p.m.: Bad throw by Loney. Good look by Cano to notice no one covering third base. Runners at the corners with one out for the guy hitting in front of Zoilo.

UPDATE, 2:56 p.m.: Almonte takes a bases-loaded walk — he has the RBI on all three Yankees runs today — but both Nix and Adams went down swinging against left-handed reliever Alex Torres. He was throwing a lot of changeups instead of breaking balls, which is something lefties often use to go after right-handers. It worked, but the Yankees have taken a 3-1 lead.

UPDATE, 3:08 p.m.: One pitch away from escaping a bases-loaded jam, Sabathia instead gave up Wil Myers’ first career home run. Off the bat, I honestly didn’t think it would go beyond the warning track, but Brett Gardner just missed a leaping catch at the wall and the grand slam put the Rays in front, 5-3.

UPDATE, 3:40 p.m.: Big double by Overbay, now a walk by Almonte and the Yankees — yet again — have the bases loaded. Nix and Adams have a chance at redemption here.

UPDATE, 3:50 p.m.: Until just a few innings ago, David Adams had never walked in a big league game. Now he’s walked with the bases loaded to pull the Yankees within a run. Here’s Wells to pinch hit for Stewart.

UPDATE, 3;54 p.m.: Gutsy call by Girardi pays off in a big way. Wells pinch hits and comes up with a bases-clearing, three-run double off hard-throwing Jake McGee.